Sunday, February 28, 2010

A Non-Encouraging Update

I learned from Lesley this week that there are 13 albums available for birthmothers to look at. That news compared with the recent news of 2-3 birthmothers due in the spring is not very encouraging. Looks like we just might be waiting a long time. On February 25th, we remembered when we received the news about Kaori. With the passing of that day, we are officially waiting longer for baby #2 than we did for Kaori. Crazy. We were of course told that the second process would not take as long as the first one did. Well, it is taking longer. I know though that is impossible to put an exact wait time on it. So, we hurry up and wait.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Dear Baby

It is the beginning of February and our life is on hold until you come home. Daddy goes to Atlanta to work every week and Kaori and I stay here. Sometimes we go to be with him, but for the most part we are here. You are thought of every day, almost every moment of every day. We pray for you. We pray for your birthmother and birthfather. Even little Kaori has begun to pray for you before she goes to bed each night. We long for our family to be complete and in order. But, I guess it makes sense for our lives to be somewhat chaotic and unsettled since we don't have you yet. When we receive that phone call, we will be overjoyed! I know my heart will pound with love for you. Prayers for your safety while we are apart will dominate my mind. When we prepare our home for you, it will be done with love and excitement to meet you, longing to hold you in my arms. As I wait, my heart is unsettled. It is missing you sweet baby. I cannot wait to hear that you are mine.

Love,
Mama

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

News

There is no news. Boo Hoo!

Ticker

Lilypie Waiting to Adopt tickers

Timeline

July 20, 2009 - Received home study packet and began paper work.
July 21, 2009 - Dropped off Kaori's immunization verification form for home study.
July 27, 2009 - Mailed in ATWA application, completed local background checks and completed Samantha's medical exam.
August 6, 2009 - Home Study visit completed.
August 9, 2009 - Mailed our I600-A to USCIS.
September 8, 2009 - Home Study Draft emailed to Lesley
September 11, 2009 - USCIS Fingerprints complete
September 18, 2009 - I600A application complete. Homestudy finalized.
September 22, 2009 - USCIS requesting further evidence.
October 7, 2009 - 171-H approval arrived!
October 20, 2009 - Mailed dossier to ATWA
October 22, 2009 - Dossier received!
November 12, 2009 - Mailed our photo album to ATWA
November 16, 2009 - Photo book received.
November 29, 2009 - Photo book traveled to Japan.
August 2010 - Moved to Georgia
September 13, 2010 - Mailed form off to be re-fingerprinted by the United States. Time to update!
September 22, 2010 - mailed letter to Fulton County to confirm emergency call history.
October 3 - Homestudy home visit
October 6 - picked up results from TB test, drug test, Urine sample, medical exam.
October 15 - All new documents for the update have been turned in.
October 20, 2010 - First draft of update emailed to ATWA for review.
October 23, 2010 - Received our appointment notices in the mail.
October 27 - Had fingerprints done early for the 171H
October 28 - Received final copies of updated homestudy.
January 2011 - New album and photos of the decorated nursery arrived in Japan.
February 2, 2011 - mailed in extension form to USCIS for our I600A.
April 1, 2011 - Mailed new birthmother letter to ATWA and ordered new photo albums.
April 12, 2011 - ATWA mailed all new things to Taz in Japan.
November 16, 2011 - Mailed application to CCAI
December 2011 - Began working on all the documents for our dossier.
WE WAITED AND WAITED WITH NO NEWS UNTIL OCTOBER 2012. GOD WAS NUDGING OUR HEARTS EVER SO GENTLY AND THEN NOT SO GENTLY TO BEGIN A PROGRAM WITH CHINA.
July 2012 - We have a son!!!
October 17 2012 - Request for update sent to orphanege.
October 27 2012 - LOA received!
October 29 2012 - LOA signed and returned to CCAI along with I800 and travel documents. Estimated travel dates (sometime in Jan. 2013)
December 28 - Travel dates sent! We are to be in Beijing on January 10 and we meet Cuyler on the 14th! Yahoo!